Providing rides to seniors

The Brockville chapter of Cycling Without Age is raising money for the purchase of a trishaw bike that will be donated to CPHC later this spring for use primarily by its adult day program. Volunteer drivers or 'pilots' are being sought.
Cycles Toussaint photojpg, BT

A new chapter of Cycling Without Age is raising money and seeking volunteers to help with the acquisition of a trishaw bicycle that will give local senior citizens an opportunity to get outside, enjoy fresh air and experience some of the city’s attractions in a new way.

The Cycling Without Age movement was founded by Ole Kassow in Denmark in 2012. He started offering free bike rides on a trishaw to nursing home residents; Kassow wanted to help the elderly get back on bicycles.

There are now more than 1,600 chapters in 42 countries. The more than 2,200 trishaws in service cycle a total of more than 2.8 million km per year, according to a Cycling Without Age facts sheet.

Joanne Bell is spearheading the Brockville effort. She believes that having such a bike will do a world of good for many local seniors who are unable to operate regular bicycles but would enjoy the opportunity to go for rides and interact with the driver and passersby. “It just energizes them,” she said.

The trishaw has two wheels and the passenger seat in the front; the unit is equipped with a motor and battery.

A Canadian-designed Ami Trishaw has been ordered and could be in Brockville by the second week of May. Brockville would have the only trishaw between Long Sault and Toronto, according to Bell. There is also one in Winchester.

The trishaw costs about $7,000 plus taxes. With shipping and other considerations, the total will likely be close to $10,000. Bell said that she has sent funding requests to numerous service clubs and other organizations in the area.

The group has permission from the city to ride in the Brockville Railway Tunnel and on the trails as well as on sidewalks, according to Bell.

The bike will be donated to Community and Primary Health Care (CPHC), which operates an adult day program on weekdays. Crystal Sled, CPHC’s community relations manager, indicated that an average of 10 to 15 people a day make use of the service. Participants play games, sing, do crafts and exercises and take part in cognitive therapy while their caregivers get a chance to take a break.

Some of the clients have dementia or physical challenges, Sled noted. There are others who have no family and feel isolated. CPHC is looking forward to the opportunity to add bike rides to its list of adult day program activities, she added.

Cycling Without Age is also seeking volunteers drivers or ‘pilots’ to operate the trishaw. Bell indicated that the volunteers must be at least 18 years old and have a valid driver’s licence. A police check is also required.

Although it is expected that some of the staff at CPHC will be trained to operate the bike, Sled said that volunteer drivers ‘are going to be huge’ when there are larger groups at the adult day program.

A fundraiser in support of the local bike is planned for Boston Pizza in Brockville on Wednesday, May 29. There will be celebrity serves and a silent auction; the bike will also be there, and rides will be offered in return for donations.

Bell believes that having the bike here and seeing it in action will give the fundraising effort a big boost.

Sled noted that CPHC will be able to issue tax receipts for donations. There is also a possibility that other organizations might be able to make use of the bike, she said.

For more information about the bike initiative, call Bell at 613-345-2385. A video and other details are available on the Cycling Without Age Brockville page on Facebook.